Workforce Housing Resource Center

What is a workforce housing resource center?

Affordable housing and programs that provide financial assistance to help families buy homes exist in the marketplace, but many people in the workforce are not aware of these opportunities. A workforce housing resource center would serve as the link between affordable housing in the market, affordable housing programs and those who need the housing. It would provide a cost-effective way for employers to assist their employees without getting involved in personal housing choices and personal finances. In addition, a workforce housing resource center could administer other types of housing-related benefits that employers may wish to offer, including down payment assistance and foreclosure prevention programs.

What are the benefits of a workforce housing resource center?

Employers will benefit because stable housing creates a stronger workforce. Local governments will benefit because community economic development depends on a variety of employee housing options. In addition, instability in housing can result in higher costs for city and county social service programs. Realtors®, home builders, developers and lenders will benefit because there is an untapped market for more affordable housing options closer to jobs. The community will benefit because stable home owners and renters create a healthy community.

Where would the resource center work?

We are proposing to develop a pilot workforce housing resource center in Dane County. Dane County is a good pilot site because of the availability of affordable housing units (including inclusionary zoning units) and the relatively high cost of housing in the area. If the pilot proves successful, we would work with nonprofits across the state to develop similar centers in other local areas.

How would the resource center work?

Three parties would be involved in the development of the workforce housing resource center. These include:

• Employers: Employers would need to support the development of the resource center, and they would create the core demand for the center by referring their employees to it. Employers could also contribute financially to support the operation of the center or the operation of employer-specific down payment programs or other types of housing assistance.
• Developers/Program Managers: A supply of housing and down payment assistance must be available for the resource center to be successful. The Partnership would work with developers who are marketing affordable homes, including City of Madison inclusionary zoning homes. We would also work to identity other public forms of down payment assistance that would increase the affordability of homes for those of lower income.
• Staff: Staff of the resource center would collect information about the housing needs of employees and work to match each family with appropriate homes, link them to home owner counseling programs, and identify available down payment assistance. The center’s services could also include resources that could assist families facing foreclosure.

The workforce housing center would work as follows:

• Using materials provided by the Partnership, employers would inform employees of the availability of assistance from the resource center. Employers would refer employees to resource center staff either as part of an employee assistance program or because of the specific need of an individual employee. Individual employees could also contact the resource center directly.
• Resource center staff would speak with employees on the phone to collect basic information on housing needs and available resources.
• Resource center staff would next identify possible housing options and assist in making the appropriate contacts with a developer, owner or Realtor.
• Resource center staff would determine whether down payment assistance would be available.
• Resource center staff would refer the employee to, or directly provide, housing and budget counseling if needed.
• Resource center staff would continue to assist employees as needed through rental or closing on the purchase of a home.

Resource center staff would compile and maintain current lists of housing at a range of types and prices that might be of interest to clients of the center. In Dane County, this list would include, for example:

• Wisconsin Partnership housing developments
• Housing available through other nonprofit developers throughout Dane County
• Inclusionary zoning homes in the City of Madison
• Affordable homes identified by the Middleton Workforce Housing Task Force
• Other homes identified by developers or Realtors

Resource center staff would also verify the availability of down payment assistance programs throughout the area and determine qualifying criteria for each. It may also be beneficial to apply for HOME down payment assistance funds from the City of Madison or Dane County.

How would the resource center be staffed?

Several different staff people would be required to operate the resource center, although they would not necessarily work full time on the resource center. The types of staff needed would include the following:

• The Outreach Manager would meet with employers to generate interest in the program. In addition, the Outreach Manager would meet with employees and provide information on the center’s resources.
• The Intake Manager would speak with employees contacting the center and gather general information on housing needs and household income. That information would be summarized on an intake form to be used to determine next steps. The Intake Manager would also talk with employees about some of the options that might be available to them. Information on specific housing opportunities appearing to be of potential benefit would be provided to employees.
• The Housing Advisor would meet with employees to further describe housing options and determine what types of down payment assistance might be available. In addition, the Housing Advisor would provide employees with a list of mortgage lenders that might be able to assist them. If the Housing Advisor determined that an employee might not be ready to purchase a home, the employee would be referred to a housing counseling agency that could help prepare the employee to purchase a home in the future. The Housing Advisor would also collect and maintain data and information on available units and programs that would be of benefit to clients.